SUSTAINABLE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
A River Conservation Plan for Northern Chester County Watersheds
Green Valleys Association
Chester County, Pennsylvania
The most ambitious CA planning program, evolving from our water resource philosophy, has been the Sustainable Watershed Management program in Chester and Berks Counties for the non-profit Green Valleys Association. The primary goal of "Sustainable Watershed Management" is to sustain the essential values that distinguish the watersheds of northern Chester County. When the wave of development pressures overtaking these communities has worked itself into a new landscape township by township, the quality of the water and the land will remain largely intact. That is the essence of sustainability.

Here, strategies for water resource quality and quantity sustainability have been developed based on a series of CA computer simulation models. This program simulates the major quality and quantity impacts of new land development, even at worst-case watershed build-out and under stressed watershed conditions. The analysis is designed to provide watershed municipalities with the technical basis needed to modify their zoning and land development regulations so that watershed values are protected and conserved.

A critical element of the SWM effort is working directly with individual municipalities. The land use strategies have involved working directly with the municipalities and the Northern Federation of Communities, a multi-municipal organization comprised of nine of the northern Chester County municipalities. Key elements of this work have included development of a Model Stormwater Ordinance to maintain groundwater recharge, and direct work with individual municipalities to review comprehensive plans and zoning, water and sewer infrastructure programs.

French creek is a High Quality-designated stream that flows through northern Chester County.

Most of northern Chester County's watersheds are designated Exceptional Value or High Quality.